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During a particularly hot durian season in Malaysia, the stall Durian Papa Muda in Kajang, Selangor, gained widespread attention after a video of shirtless, muscular men working there went viral on TikTok. The 37-second clip, uploaded in June, has amassed over 980,000 views and more than 30,000 likes, attracting numerous customers to the stall.
In the video, one of the shirtless men, wearing sunglasses and a bright smile, is seen loading a basket with durians while posing for the camera. Other topless men with well-defined physiques are shown unloading durians from a truck and handling the spiky fruits with ease, making small incisions on the shells for easier cutting.
The video elicited a flurry of reactions from netizens, many of whom were amused and impressed. Comments ranged from humorous to admiring, with one user joking about how long they had stayed at the stall and another expressing a desire to work there. Some even humorously confessed their concern about their partners' reactions to their enthusiasm over the video.
However, not all feedback was positive. Some netizens criticized the men for "selling their bodies" instead of durians, and others raised hygiene concerns, wondering if sweat could contaminate the fruit. Despite this, the stall's co-owner, Muhammad Al Irfan, clarified that their intention was not to show off. Irfan, 25, explained that he had taken off his shirt due to the hot weather while sorting fruits, unaware that a customer and his sister were recording videos. His cousin, Muhamad Amirul Zaihan Osman, noted that the stall is family-run and acknowledged the impact of viral TikTok videos on their business.
Despite the criticism, another worker, Tengku Zarith Jazmine, 27, mentioned that in-person feedback from customers had been positive, emphasizing that they guarantee a refund if the durian is not up to standard. She acknowledged that criticism on social media is common but reassured that their customers were satisfied.
The video also caught the attention of Malaysia's Health Ministry due to hygiene concerns. Deputy health minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni stated that while the viral clip boosted durian sales, it set a poor example for the food industry. The ministry has since contacted Durian Papa Muda and is considering appropriate action to address the issue.
Source: AsiaOne
